Today we’d like to introduce you to Priscilla Ariana
Hi Priscilla, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
From a very young age, music has always been an intuitive outlet for me, allowing me to connect with my internal voice.
My first experience with live music was when I was four months old, watching my uncle perform with his band, The Beach Boys. It was a beautiful introduction to music—The Beach Boys’ groundbreaking sound had a positive influence on my life as well as so many. Showcasing their good vibrations to so many of all ages, around the world is still so inspiring to witness.
Traditionally, music was a part of every occasion, especially with my Mexican family. My grandmother, Magdalena, has a raspy, resonant voice full of light and love. I would sing and dance with her and my grandpa, Jesus, whenever I visited their house, whether in the kitchen or at family parties.
I feel blessed for this relationship with music, especially during times when life shifted from vibrant to a more subdued reality. Thankfully as the youngest in the family, I spent a lot of time alone, my imagination fueled by the influence of Disney.
When my eldest brother fell ill, my world transitioned from rainbows to shades of gray. Our weekly church visits dwindled, but I continued with school. My faith had always been strong, I prayed every night for everyone, then finished the prayer praying for my brother. We played roles for each other; despite his pain, he would light up when I visited him in the hospital, and I focused on bringing my positivity to our time together.
At home, my older brother struggled with his own battles. Over time, we began to untangle those knots as a family. In recent years, my family has found a much better place mentally, physically, and spiritually. I cry tears of gratitude daily.
As a child, I participated in choir and musicals, often sketching my dream beach house in Malibu while pursuing my goal of becoming a musician. I wanted my stories to do more than make people dance; I aimed for my music to embrace listeners and let them know they weren’t alone. Though I often felt misunderstood and shy, writing gave me the space to find my voice and create lyrics that saved my soul.
In high school, I continued to pursue music by joining the choir, songwriting, and participating in a cappella. My choir teacher, Matthew Begale was a significant influence; he took my dream of becoming a musician seriously. Besides my parents, who believed in me, he was the first to help me chart a path to success. I remember when he introduced me to a university called Berklee College of Music—a school my parents and I hadn’t heard of before. It became my dream.
Transitioning from a girl who experienced daily anxiety attacks and struggled to keep up, the moment I learned I had been accepted felt surreal! It was as if the world froze, and joy erupted in my heart. I screamed, sprinted, jumped, cried, and called my family, reading the acceptance letter repeatedly, half-expecting to see it was a mistake.
Berklee helped me grow immensely—learning about music theory, culture, and the power of music itself. I was thrilled to connect with artists from around the world and absorb their diverse influences. I was surprised by how open-minded my classmates were; conversing with them felt like a burst of creative energy. My favorite classes focused on entrepreneurship, philosophy, and vocal performance. I was relentless in my pursuit of knowledge throughout college until my junior year, when I hit a wall.
Experiencing heart failure forced me to learn how to breathe. I realized I could no longer rely on external things or people to find a sense of calm. It taught me to appreciate life and to be hyper present.
During this time, I wrote my debut album, “Door to The Cosmos,” an exploration of self-discovery and recognizing the magic within us all, urging listeners to strive for their highest selves.
It was a challenging period. I remember being at my weakest, unable to step up a curb after leaving the hospital, feeling a manic excitement for life with no fear. But reality hit me hard in the following months. I was no longer the person I used to be, and I grieved for her, ashamed of my past mistakes. I felt heavy, reluctant to escape the darkness, and overwhelmed by shame, guilt, and discomfort.
I continued down my natural coping mechanism of writing, diving deep within myself.
Music became legitimate medicine for my soul— ‘Cherry Blossoms’ helped me confront my shame, allowing me to embrace the person I was becoming. The ease of acceptance, healing me and enabling me to love the reflection in the mirror.
Having experienced such lows made me contemplate and accept how much lower I could go and embrace the woman I envisioned on the other side. I chose to invite discomfort by letting go of people who didn’t inspire me. Over time, I found friends who became family. My producer, Somesh Das, was a guiding light, eager to help bring my songs to life. I remember the moment we met on Valentine’s Day; I had printed all my songs and filled the couch, floor, and table with them. I asked, “Where do we begin?” He replied hysterically holding himself together with a smile, “You tell me.”
We spent that night getting to know each other, and by daybreak, we had written three songs for my debut album, ‘Door to The Cosmos’.
This was just the beginning, and since graduation my journey continues here in Los Angeles. Each day, I follow my intuition and am gradually building a team willing to embrace this vision with me. As I mentioned before, I cry tears of gratitude every day. I am thankful for my family, friends, mentors, the Berklee community, and the guidance of each person I encounter.
I am blessed for this path and mission, sharing my music through performances, storytelling online, and working on writing books, a journalistic memoir, a poetry collection, and a children’s book. I aim to become a better collaborator and spokesperson, continuing to speak at schools to inspire the youth and more!
In all with vision, anything is possible.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Maintaining a sense of self is one of the most challenging aspects of the journey. The road less traveled is full of uncharted territory, and you must be willing to embrace discomfort at every step. Additionally, it’s easy to get lost in the beauty and excitement of the journey. It’s important to tune into your body, seek guidance, and make time for silence and rest for the long haul.
Reminder, there is no rush to meet your destiny.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a creative entrepreneur on a mission to inspire authenticity and help individuals along their journeys find their voice.
My role is to bring my vision to life by translating these ideas into music and visuals. Gradually, those who resonate with the music and the subject matter will be inspired to embark on their own creative pursuits. My goal is to make their path of self-discovery less challenging. The foundation of my brand will be built on my wisdom and storytelling through lyricism, publications, content, and speaking engagements. I lead a team that guides creative direction while thinking big picture, and I am adaptable to life’s unforeseen uncertainties that may impact our plans.
To realize this dream, I have discovered that the most important aspect of a brand is what fuels my energy: the passion and determination to strive, embrace failure, maintain an open mind, and grow.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Books that helped untangle a lot of knots of trauma after heart failure were Deepak Chopra’s, ‘Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul’,
Books that helped me open my mind to so much possibility are Rick Rubin’s, ‘The Creative Act, A Way of Being’, Clarissa Pinkola Estés,’Women Who Run With The Wolves’, Jim Collins, ‘Good to Great’, Stephen R. Covey’s, ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People’, Malcom Gladwell’s, ‘The Tipping Point’ and ‘The Outliers’, Jonah Berger’s, ‘The Catalyst’, Dale Carnegie’s, ‘How To Win Friends And Influence People’, James Clear’s, ‘Atomic Habits’ are just to name a few.
Podcasts/YouTube videos I would watch/listen are ‘On Purpose’ with Jay Shetty. Some of my favorite episodes are with his guests, Laura Lynne Jackson, Rick Rubin, Joe Dispenza, Robert Greene, Stephan Speaks, Dr. Gabor Maté, and Chris Voss.
Other inspirational figures have been The Beach Boys, my family, Ambha, Love, Casscellina, Lisa Nichols, Maya Angelou, and my mentors, Teodros Kiros, George Howard, Donald Charles, Matthew Begale, and Elena Koleva.
Apps: Notion, Canva, Premiere Pro, and Notability.
A planner that had helped me so much are the ones from Anecdote Goods – be sure to use the code: anecdotexpriscilla for 20% off!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.priscillaariana.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/priscillaarianamusic/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PriscillaArianaMusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP4-9Jy4E3MYuF3kRtBEkdQ
Image Credits
Benjamin Pu
Mac B Photography
